When the 76ers acquired Andrew Bynum in a four-way blockbuster back in August, they were praised by most pundits for having secured a player capable of being a franchise cornerstone. Bynum was viewed as the NBA's second-best center, and the trade ensured that the league's best center, Dwight Howard, would no longer be playing in the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, the deal has yet to pay dividends in Philadelphia. Bynum's ongoing knee problems have prevented him from making his 2012/13 debut, and the 25-year-old is said to be out "indefinitely." At this point, it's easy to second-guess the summer blockbuster, questioning whether the Sixers could have acquired a more reliable star, rather than one with an injury history, for a package that included Andre Iguodala, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, and a future first-round pick.

But it is that simple? It's not as if Bynum's stint with the Sixers can be written off already. He could return later this season, and even if he doesn't, perhaps his health concerns mean Philadelphia will be able to lock him up next summer at a reduced price. Additionally, it didn't seem as if the Iguodala-led Sixers were a legit title contender as constructed. Danny Pommels of CSNPhilly.com wrote yesterday that the Sixers are a better team without AI, and that the deal was still a worthwhile one.

So what do you think? Should the 76ers have stood pat and moved forward this season with Iguodala, hoping that further development from Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner took the team to the next level? Should they have sought out the next-best deal for Iguodala, even if it didn't involve landing a potential franchise player like Bynum? Or do you think, taking into account the previous roster's ceiling and Bynum's long-term upside, that the trade still makes sense for Philadelphia?

And that, sir, is where you are mistaken. That lineup does not include Jason Richardson, who has thus far been the veteran leader, glue guy, and knock-down three point shooter for this team. I would have traded Iguodala and his inability to carry a team for Richardson’s leadership and his expiring contract straight up. The team had reached its potential under Iguodala’s sorry, mediocre reign as the front man. We had to let him go and think about free agency and acquiring better players going forward while continuing to develop the young core. That much has happened and is still happening.